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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Dolmen dit La Pierre ouverée de Mousseau is an emblematic megalithic monument located in the commune of Ulmes, in the department of Maine-et-Loire (region Pays de la Loire). This site, classified among the dolmens of the angelvin type, illustrates an architectural style considered the "most classic" of this category. Its present state reveals a partially buried ensemble, marked by two imposing slabs of cover, one of which, broken, has a fragment still erect while the other lies on the ground. The burial chamber, oriented towards the northeast, is structured into three distinct spaces by transverse orthostats, reflecting a neat internal organization.

The building was officially recognized for its heritage value in 1984, when it was listed as historic monuments by ministerial order. This protection underlines its archaeological and cultural importance in the megalithic landscape of Anjou. Available sources, including Michel Gruet's work (Megalithes en Anjou, 2005), confirm his membership in a wider network of prehistoric sites in the region, while specifying his exact location: 6 Route de Rou, aux Ulmes. No additional information on its ritual use or discoverers is mentioned in the documents consulted.

The architectural description highlights remarkable technical features, such as the size of the cover tables and the internal division of the room. These elements, combined with its specific orientation, suggest a planned sepulchral function, typical of the dolmens of that time. However, the source texts do not provide precise dating for its construction, nor do they provide elements on the populations that erected or used this monument. The approximate location, noted as satisfactory (level 6/10) on Monumentum, nevertheless makes it possible to clearly identify the site in its current environment.

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